By Buck Garrett, Editor in Chief
I’ve spent enough years in the woods to be suspicious of anything that promises to make recovery easy. A drone isn’t going to walk a blood trail for you, and it isn’t going to replace good shot placement or a hunter who’s willing to slow down and do the work. But there’s a difference between hype and a useful tool used honestly, and after sitting down with the team at Drone Out LLC, I think what they’re building falls into the second category.
Drone Out LLC is based in Hopedale, Illinois, and runs two lines of work that matter to our readers: thermal-assisted deer recovery, and aerial support for food-plot planning and seeding. A third line — agricultural drone application — is in the pipeline for early 2027. Here’s what the company had to say about all three, including the part of this conversation that needed the most care: Illinois’s contested legal position on drone-assisted recovery.
Why This Business Exists
Dalton Cremeens didn’t come to this from the tech side first. He started hunting at age 10 and kept at it into adulthood, later taking on food-plot management on his own ground — the kind of hands-on work that teaches you the hard way what terrain, cover, access, and habitat actually do to a hunt. Drone flying came later, starting as a hobby around four years before he turned it into a professional operation in 2026, the same year Drone Out LLC was founded and launched.
“My goal is not to present a drone as a magic answer,” he told us. “It is to use the technology responsibly, within the law, and only when it can add useful information without creating unnecessary risk or disturbance.”
That’s the right instinct for this kind of tool, and it shows up in how the company talks about its own limits — something I appreciate, because a business that oversells what a drone can do is a business I wouldn’t trust with my own recovery call.
The Deer-Recovery Service: What It Actually Covers
Drone Out LLC’s recovery territory covers Illinois and western Indiana. The company says it does not turn Illinois hunters away or steer them toward another method simply because the call is coming from Illinois — a point they were direct about, and one that matters given the legal section below.
The calls that most often come in involve the situations every serious hunter has faced at least once: standing crops, dense timber, thick brush, uneven ground, creek bottoms, wetlands, big acreage, or a blood trail that crosses onto a neighboring parcel where permission and boundaries suddenly matter. Darkness, bad weather, uncertain shot placement, and the risk of pushing a wounded animal further all factor in too.
But a phone call doesn’t automatically mean a launch. Before any discussion of an aerial role, the company says it needs to understand where the event happened, the animal’s last known condition and direction of travel, land ownership and access, the applicable state wildlife rules, airspace, weather, and whether the mission can be flown safely and lawfully at that location and time.
“I begin by slowing the situation down and gathering facts,” Cremeens said. “I do not want a caller entering land without permission, disturbing livestock or crops, or pushing an animal because of rushed advice.”
He was equally direct about what the technology can’t do. Thermal imagery shows temperature differences — but vegetation, weather, terrain, solar heating, distance, and the animal’s own condition can all affect what actually shows up on screen. A drone cannot guarantee a recovery, read every condition from the air, replace lawful ground verification, or create a right to enter someone’s property. And no flight happens, he said, unless the operation is confirmed lawful, authorized, and safe at that specific time and place.
Before the Flight: What Has to Be in Place
At minimum, Drone Out LLC says it evaluates: the current wildlife law and agency position in that state; the hunter’s account of a lawful hunt; landowner or site permission for access, launch, and landing; property boundaries and public-land restrictions; FAA rules, including pilot certification, aircraft registration, and Remote ID; airspace authorization; visual-line-of-sight feasibility; weather; night-operation requirements; and risk to people, animals, vehicles, structures, and other aircraft.
Landowner permission doesn’t override wildlife or aviation law, and aviation authority doesn’t create a right to enter someone else’s land — the company was clear that both have to line up independently.
The Mistake Hunters Make Before the Season Even Starts
Asked what trips hunters up most, the answer wasn’t about equipment — it was about planning. “The biggest mistake is waiting until after a difficult shot to think about recovery,” Cremeens said. His advice: before the season opens, know your property lines, line up or know how to request neighboring access, save landowner contact information, learn your state’s and site’s recovery rules, and keep Drone Out LLC’s number on hand. After the shot, the most common error is moving too fast and losing reliable information about the last known location and sign. A calm, documented approach protects the property, cuts down on unnecessary disturbance, and gives any recovery effort — drone or otherwise — its best possible starting point.
Illinois’s Contested Legal Landscape: What Drone Out LLC Told Us
Let me be straight about something before we get into this: HuntingMagazine.net isn’t taking a position on whether Drone Out LLC’s reading of Illinois law is correct. We’re not attorneys, and nobody knows for certain how a higher court would rule on it. What we do think is that this is a genuinely interesting approach to an old problem — recovering wounded game when the ground search fails — and it deserves fair, complete coverage, doubts included. Read what follows as reporting on Drone Out LLC’s position and the facts around it, not as HuntingMagazine.net’s endorsement of that position.
This is the part of the story that deserves the most caution, so we’re presenting it in detail rather than summarizing it away.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has publicly and repeatedly stated that using a drone for any aspect of hunting or wildlife recovery is unlawful under the Illinois Wildlife Code (520 ILCS 5/2.33(i)), and Conservation Police have said enforcement will continue regardless of individual court outcomes. Drone Out LLC’s service territory includes Illinois, so we asked the company directly how it squares its Illinois recovery service with that stated position.
The company pointed to a specific case: Illinois pilot Jeremy Shelton, who received a citation following a nighttime drone search arising from a Pike County incident. According to Shelton and his attorney, Edward Fanning, discussing the case publicly, a circuit judge granted a directed finding in Shelton’s favor at the close of the State’s evidence — reportedly distinguishing a passive search for a reportedly dead deer from hunting, taking, or pursuing a live animal under 520 ILCS 5/2.33(i). We were unable to locate an independent court record, docket number, or news account of this case beyond Shelton and Fanning’s own telling, which is a limitation readers should weigh.
Drone Out LLC treats that result as meaningful support for its interpretation of the statute and says it’s using it as the company’s operating basis for offering recovery service in Illinois. But the company was upfront about the limits of that case, and we want our readers to understand them just as clearly:
- This is a publicly reported circuit-court trial result, not a binding statewide appellate decision.
- No case number or written order was identified in our interview with the company.
- According to Shelton’s attorney, IDNR did not accept the ruling and intends to continue enforcement.
“This describes Drone Out LLC’s operating position,” Cremeens told us. “It is not a representation that enforcement risk has been eliminated statewide.” The company says it documents the purpose and facts of every Illinois recovery request — the hunter’s account of the shot, the search objective, the exact location, landowner permission, property boundaries, site authorization, airspace and any flight restrictions, visual-line-of-sight planning, weather, and pilot qualifications — and that no one may use its service to scout for live wildlife or aid in taking an animal.
The company confirmed it does not exclude, pause, or treat Illinois as inquiry-only: it accepts and services recovery calls in both Illinois and western Indiana, subject to the same landowner, FAA, safety, and availability conditions in both states.
Western Indiana: A Clearer Statute, With Its Own Limits
Indiana law is more settled on this point. Indiana Code § 14-22-6-16 expressly permits use of an infrared-capable unmanned aerial vehicle to locate and recover a legally taken wild animal. That statute does not, however, authorize entry onto someone else’s property or recovery from that property without the landowner’s permission — Indiana DNR property restrictions, FAA requirements, airspace, safety, weather, and scheduling all still apply before a western Indiana flight happens.
Pending Legislation to Watch
Editor’s correction: Drone Out LLC referred us to “House Bill 4291” as the pending exception described below. When we went to verify that bill number, it corresponds to unrelated Illinois legislation on child-support collection, not drone recovery. We could not confirm which bill Drone Out LLC meant. Two active bills in the Illinois General Assembly match the description Drone Out LLC gave us — a narrow exception for drone-assisted location and recovery of wounded wildlife, contingent on landowner permission and no weapon in hand while the drone is airborne: HB 2740 and HB 1462. We’re presenting Drone Out LLC’s account of the bill’s substance below, but readers should check both links directly and confirm the correct bill number with the Illinois General Assembly rather than rely on the number Drone Out LLC gave us.
As described to us, the proposed exception would allow drone-assisted location and recovery of wounded wildlife under specific conditions — a lawfully wounded animal during open season, landowner permission before launch or landing, restrictions on weapons while the drone is airborne, and no harassment of wildlife. Drone Out LLC says it isn’t waiting on the bill to serve Illinois hunters, but will study any final language and adjust procedures if it passes. Hunters should independently confirm the current status of Illinois drone-recovery legislation before relying on anything written here.
Seeing the Property From Above: Food-Plot Planning and Aerial Seeding
Away from the legal debate, this is the part of Drone Out LLC’s work that’s on far more solid ground — both service lines are live now.
“An aerial view helps a landowner see the property as a connected system rather than a collection of isolated fields,” Cremeens explained. From above, food, bedding cover, water, terrain, travel corridors, field edges, access routes, and neighboring land all show their relationship to each other — useful information for judging whether a proposed plot is reachable without unnecessary disturbance, whether equipment can get to it, how wind and entry routes affect use, and whether the location actually fits the owner’s habitat goals. The drone supplies information; the landowner’s own objectives, soil conditions, and management plan still do the deciding.
The best candidates for drone-assisted seeding tend to be small or irregularly shaped plots, ground that’s hard for equipment to reach, cover-crop or food-plot seeding where soil compaction is a concern, and properties where updated aerial imagery would sharpen the planning. Wet ground, standing crops, slopes, narrow access, or sensitive areas that make conventional equipment inefficient or damaging are also good fits. Not every property qualifies — acreage, terrain, obstacles, airspace, site permission, and the aircraft’s payload capability all have to line up, and the company notes that seed spreading itself can be regulated as an agricultural aircraft operation under FAA rules (14 CFR Part 137), even when no pesticide is involved.
Aerial seeding changes how seed reaches the ground — it doesn’t change what that seed needs afterward. Soil testing, pH and fertility, seed-to-soil contact, species and rate selection, moisture, timing, and weed pressure still determine whether a plot succeeds. “We want the application method to support a sound plan, not substitute for one,” Cremeens said. Where it earns its keep is on plots where the alternative is walking a hand spreader or pulling a seeder behind a four-wheeler — Drone Out LLC pitches itself as the practical middle option for ground that’s too small to justify a larger application company, but too much for hand tools.
What’s Coming in 2027: Agricultural Drone Application
Drone Out LLC’s third service line — agricultural spraying and spreading — isn’t live yet, and the company was careful to say so plainly rather than blur the timeline. It’s scheduled to launch in early 2027, ahead of food-plot season, once Cremeens’s remaining application-specific certifications and the corresponding insurance are fully in effect.
When it does launch, the process will start with a review of the area, the customer’s goal, property boundaries, obstacles, access, airspace, weather, nearby sensitive areas, and the material being applied. For a seeding project, the drone will be calibrated to the customer’s specified seed and rate, a precise operating boundary programmed for the plot, and the mission flown autonomously while the pilot actively monitors coverage and application rate, with the ability to pause or adjust as needed.
The best-fit properties for this future service are, again, the in-between plots: too small to make economic sense for a larger drill or sprayer operation, but large enough that hand tools or a four-wheeler seeder would be slow and labor-intensive. A poor candidate would be one with unclear property permission or boundaries, unsafe obstacles, bad wind or weather, incompatible airspace, or anything that prevents safe monitoring of the flight and application.
The Equipment and Credentials Behind the Work
For recovery, survey, and mapping — the services that are live today — Drone Out LLC flies a DJI Matrice 4T, using its thermal and visual imaging to assess large areas, inspect difficult terrain, and generate useful aerial information for customers.
For the agricultural application line launching in 2027, the company has a TALOS T60X agricultural application drone built for spraying and spreading work.
On credentials: Cremeens holds an FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate and an Illinois pesticide applicator license, and Drone Out LLC carries insurance covering DJI Matrice 4T operations. He’s currently completing additional application-specific certifications for field-crop, specialty-crop, and aquatic work, with the appropriate agricultural-application insurance set to be fully in effect by early 2027, before that service goes live. Until then, recovery, survey, and mapping are active services — agricultural spraying and spreading are not.
“Prepare With Purpose”
Every publication we feature has some kind of operating philosophy, whether they say it out loud or not. Drone Out LLC’s is “prepare with purpose” — and when we asked what that actually means, the answer was less about the drone and more about judgment:
“It means deciding what a successful and responsible outcome looks like before launching an aircraft. It means understanding the customer’s goal, checking the law and the site, confirming permissions, selecting the right equipment, respecting the property and wildlife, planning for safety, and being willing to say no when the conditions do not support the mission. For customers, it means getting an honest assessment rather than a promise built around the technology. The drone is a tool; judgment and preparation determine whether it is the right tool.”
That’s a standard I can respect, and it’s the same standard I’d hold any recovery service — drone or otherwise — to.
Availability and Limits
Availability depends on location, season, weather, daylight or night requirements, airspace, visibility, crop and ground conditions, landowner or site permission, equipment, and pilot scheduling. Recovery, survey, and mapping are available now across Illinois and western Indiana. Agricultural application begins in early 2027, pending final certifications and insurance. No recovery operator — drone-assisted or otherwise — can guarantee that an animal will be located or recovered, and Drone Out LLC doesn’t claim otherwise.
Get in Touch
Readers can reach Drone Out LLC by phone at 309-830-2658, by email at droneoutllc@gmail.com, or through DroneOutLLC.com to discuss location and availability. The company says Illinois and western Indiana callers will get a direct response and an honest assessment of the property, conditions, timing, and flight plan — and that Illinois hunters won’t be turned away simply because of where they’re calling from.
Editor’s note: This is a featured partner story. Drone Out LLC is an advertiser with HuntingMagazine.net. We interviewed the company directly and are presenting its answers, including its own account of a disputed area of Illinois law. HuntingMagazine.net takes no position on the correctness of that legal interpretation — we found the approach worth covering, not settled. Nothing here is legal advice. If you hunt in Illinois and are weighing whether to use — or hire out — drone-assisted recovery, talk to your own attorney and check the current status of Illinois drone-recovery legislation before you act. See the Sources section below for the primary documents this story relies on.
FAQ: Drone-Assisted Deer Recovery and Food-Plot Services
Is drone-assisted deer recovery legal in Illinois?
It’s disputed. IDNR has publicly stated that any drone use for hunting or wildlife recovery is unlawful under the Illinois Wildlife Code and says it will continue enforcement. A Pike County circuit-court case reportedly ended in a directed finding for the pilot, distinguishing a passive drone search from hunting or pursuing wildlife — but that result is not binding statewide precedent, and we could not independently verify it beyond the pilot’s own account. A narrow legal exception for recovering wounded game by drone is pending in the Illinois General Assembly but had not passed as of September 6, 2026. Anyone considering this in Illinois should consult an attorney and check current legislation directly with the Illinois General Assembly.
Is drone-assisted deer recovery legal in Indiana?
Indiana Code permits use of an infrared-capable drone to locate and recover a legally taken wild animal, but it does not authorize entering someone else’s property or recovering an animal from that property without the landowner’s permission.
What areas does Drone Out LLC serve?
The company is based in Hopedale, Illinois. Its deer-recovery service area covers Illinois and western Indiana, and its agricultural focus is Central Illinois.
What equipment does Drone Out LLC use?
A DJI Matrice 4T for recovery, survey, and mapping, and a TALOS T60X agricultural application drone for the spraying/spreading service launching in early 2027.
Can aerial seeding replace good food-plot preparation?
No. Aerial seeding changes how seed reaches the ground, not what it needs afterward — soil testing, seed-to-soil contact, species selection, timing, and follow-up management still determine whether a plot succeeds.
Is Drone Out LLC’s agricultural spraying service available now?
Not yet. It’s scheduled to launch in early 2027, once remaining certifications and application insurance are fully in effect. Recovery, survey, and mapping services are active now.
Sources
- Illinois Department of Natural Resources, public statement on drone use for hunting and recovery: dnr.illinois.gov
- Illinois Wildlife Code, 520 ILCS 5/2.33(i), full statutory text: ilga.gov
- Jeremy Shelton and attorney Edward Fanning discussing the Pike County case publicly (not a court record; no independent verification found): The DroneOn Show, Episode 49
- Illinois General Assembly, HB 2740 (possible match for the pending exception Drone Out LLC described; bill number not confirmed by the source): ilga.gov
- Illinois General Assembly, HB 1462 (second possible match): billtrack50.com
- Indiana Code § 14-22-6-16, drone recovery of legally taken wildlife: law.justia.com
- FAA, Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate: faa.gov
- FAA, Part 137 agricultural aircraft/dispensing operations: faa.gov
- Illinois Department of Agriculture, pesticide applicator certification and licensing: agr.illinois.gov